The Waterboys Question
- Paul Fox
- May 22, 2015
- 2 min read

Travelled over to UVic last night to see one of my all time favourite bands: The Waterboys. So before we go much further let’s get one thing clear right from the start. I’m a little biased when it comes to these guys and particularly their front-man: Mike Scott. This guy should be at the very top of the song writer pile. A genius, a songwriting God living among us mere mortals. And he’s touring North America in this bus…(pic) playing songs from the new album: “Modern Blues” with a liberal sprinkling of older favourites.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that one of my many faults is the habit of banging on about the latest brilliant book, marvelous movie or sensational song (for example; the comments on Nick Drake in my previous epistle.) But Mike Scott and the Waterboys should get way more recognition for songs such as: The Whole of the Moon, Fisherman’s Blues and my favourite: This is the Sea. Where would Celtic/Folk rock be without these guys? In a very sorry state, that’s where.
And here’s a little known fact: when Owen and I first talked about forming a band this is the band I wanted to sound like (plus bagpipes of course). I know, I know The Celtic Cowboys have a long way to go…
I first saw The Waterboys in Nottingham in the early eighties around the time the album ‘This is the Sea’ was released. At that time I was playing bass in a local band called the Umbrella Men. We were gigging around the midlands, sending out demo tapes to record companies trying to get a deal. And this brings me to the Waterboys question mentioned in the title:
If my band had got a deal and sold a solid number of albums over the next few years would we still be touring thirty years later? Would Kate and I have moved our family to BC and Deep Cove? Would Kate (the boss) have put up with all the crap that goes with this kind of touring schedule? More than one question there I grant you and lots to think about. I think I might have to go lie down in a darkened room.
For the record, the gig was brilliant and lived up to decades of anticipation. They played most of my faves and a couple of great new songs (The Girl who slept for Scotland was one.) And we got to meet some of them on the 7 o’clock ferry back to Vancouver the next morning!!
Check out: www.mikescottwaterboys.com
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